I have made my living from writing since 1975 - journalism, non fiction, poetry, reviews, educational materials and marketing copy. I design residencies, run workshops for adults and young people and work as a mentor. I am a former Royal Literary Fund fellow and lector and trained to run writing workshops in business.

I've run workshops in schools, youth centres, a secure unit and Buckingham Palace for a diverse range of young people, including asylum seekers, those at risk of homelessness, carers, travellers and young people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. I've contributed to research projects into creative learning and my work has been featured by the Poetry Society and Poetry Trust.

I am a freelance writer and associate lecturer in creative writing for the Open University. I have been Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the universities of Surrey and Sussex, tutor for the Creative Writing Programme in Brighton and visiting lecturer in creative non-fiction at Goldsmiths University. I was the first poet in residence at Unilever and have designed writing workshops for medical students, farmers, call centre staff, lawyers, GPs, substance misusers, arts administrators and educators. I was an associate lecturer for the University of Chichester's MA in creative writing and led the writing strand of a leadership course for Unilever and Arts&Business.

As a mentor, I have worked through the Poetry School and in business, supporting individuals wishing to develop their poetry, non fiction and professional writing.

I have run workshops with art galleries and artists, musicians and orchestras and taught residential writing courses for the Arvon Foundation and Ty Newydd National Writer's Centre for Wales. I have also worked for the Poetry School and produced educational materials for the Poetry Society and Poetry Trust.

Jackie Wills worked with us for two sessions in 2002. The first was the Artist in Residence post where she worked for a week with Year 8 students. She handled a wide range of ability, attitude, different ethnic backgrounds and children who speak 57 different languages at different levels of English with flair, humour and intellectual challenge. All students involved, around 250 in all, wrote poems on the theme of identity. Jackie prepared well in advance and structured each learning and writing session in an imaginative way. The students enjoyed working with her and were very proud of their results.

In the summer Jackie worked with us in the Summer Science School for the gifted and telented. She prepared poetry writing with Scientists and also took part in a wide range of other activities with students in Year 7 and 8.

She remained calm and collected through a hectic three days. Again students produced some interesting pieces.

I would recommend Jackie Wills to any school who wish to enhance the creative learning experience of young people. She is an excellent poet herself; listens effectively to the demands and challenges of students; and is able to encourage even the most reluctant to take part in the process of poetry writing.

Deputy Head
Loxford School of Science and Technology, Essex

Jackie has visited Imberhorne School on a number of occasions over the past ten years. We keep asking her to come back because of the excellent work that she does. She has worked in all key stages; she provides stimulating, imaginative and enjoyable exercises for the students and they produce work of a very high standard. Jackie's student management skills are very good indeed; she is firm, patient and clear about her expectations. She has a lot of experience working with children and young adults and she clearly enjoys the work; these factors contribute to the positive working environment she creates in her workshops.

As well as running workshops for students, Jackie has also run a writing workshop for teachers. This was incredibly popular and we are looking forward to the opportunity to set this up again.

Jackie is highly professional in her approach to her work; she is reliable and helpful at all stages of the process of arranging a visit. We love her own poetry and we look forward to seeing her here again soon.

Head of English, Imberhorne School, West Sussex

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